The man who fatally shot Elle Edwards outside a pub on Christmas Eve has been jailed for life.
Connor Chapman was sentenced to a minimum of 48 years behind bars for the murder of Elle, a 26-year-old beautician.
Just after 11.50pm on 24 December last year, Chapman, 23, fired a Skorpian sub-machine gun outside a pub in Wallasey Village. His actions led to Elle’s death and injured five other men.
He was found guilty of attempted murder, wounding with intent to cause GBH and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life after a 16-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Elle’s family had described her in a tribute as ‘the most beautiful and bright star out there, forever and always’ after her death.
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In passing sentence High Court Judge Justice Goose said: “What you did Connor Chapman was as wicked as it was shocking.
“You murdered Elle, bringing an end to her life, and caused serious injury and wounded others.
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“It’s utterly shocking you carefully planned a revenge attack in a gang rivalry. You had no thought for anyone else. The risks of what you did were as high as they were obvious.”
Connor Chapman has been found guilty of the murder of Elle Edwards on Christmas Eve. Credit: Merseyside Police
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Paul Grounds said: “Connor Chapman has today been jailed for life for the senseless and tragic murder of Elle Edwards in Wirral on Christmas Eve last year.
“Elle was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her who was simply enjoying a night out in a pub with her family and friends.
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“The cowardly actions of Chapman on that night, firing at his intended targets while they were stood outside in a crowd, shows the arrogance and contempt he had for everyone else.
“As a result of his reckless actions Elle had her life tragically cut short.
“Her family, friends and everyone who knew her have been left devastated by their loss.
“Today Chapman is behind bars where he rightly belongs and where he will now spend a considerable period of his adult life. His co-accused Thomas Waring has also been brought to justice.
“No sentence, however long, can change what Chapman did but I hope knowing he has been brought to justice and is off our streets brings them some small amount of comfort.
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Elle Edwards. Credit: Merseyside Police
“I also hope that it serves as a deterrent to anyone considering picking up or using a gun.
“I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Elle’s family who throughout this whole investigation and the trial have remained dignified and composed despite being forced to relive the horrific events of Christmas Eve. I hope that now they can start to properly grieve their loss.
“I would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and in particular Nigel Power KC and Katy Appleton for the successful prosecution of the case.
“I would also like to thank all the officers and staff from across all strands of Merseyside Police who were involved in the case.
“From day one their commitment, dedication and hard work has been key to the investigation and allowed us to successfully prosecute Chapman and Waring and get justice for Elle’s family.”
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Adam Clarke, Specialist Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “The murder of Elle Edwards has devastated a community and left her family and friends distraught.
“Her tragic death is keenly felt by so many. I, and the entire Crown Prosecution Service, extend our sincere condolences to her family and friends.
“Both Connor Chapman and Thomas Waring have now been sentenced and this brings this prosecution to an end. But, for Elle’s family and friends, the long process of coming to terms with the dreadful events of that night is probably only just beginning. We know nothing can make up for their loss, but we hope the conviction and sentencing of these two people will bring some comfort.
“This case is yet another example of the dreadful results of taking weapons onto our streets and into our communities. All too often it is innocent bystanders who pay the price,”
Chapman was jailed for 22 years for attempted murders of Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, seven years for wounding, 18 months for assault, 15 years for possession of a firearm and three years for stolen property. The sentences will run concurrently totalling to 48 years.
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His accomplice Thomas Waring, aged 20, of Private Drive in Barnston, was found guilty of possession of a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender in relation to the murder.
Waring has been jailed for nine years for possession of a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender.
Anyone who has any information about the use and storage of guns and weapons is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestopperUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A local baby bank is holding a vital fundraiser to stop it from closing for good
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester baby bank is holding a vital fundraiser in hopes of preventing from it closing for goodimminently.
For anyone unaware, baby banks are crucial organisations run largely by volunteers who help provide vital supplies to families in local communities, with more than 300 in use across the UK at present.
Through delivering much-needed aid such as clothing, prams, nappies and baby food, right through to direct financial support, they help keep parents and their children in good supply of essentials and much more – hugely important work at any rate, let alone during the winter and a cost of living crisis.
However, the Little Green Sock Project over in Trafford is at risk of permanent closure if they don’t raise £200,000 come the New Year.
As seen in this moving video, the baby bank based over in Stretford Mall is in dire need of support and right now after being given until January to find new premises.
Fundamentally operated as a non-profit and volunteer-led charity, they naturally don’t have the means to just take over a new space on their own and with the current site set to be demolished very soon, a minimum of £200k is needed to find and fund a new location.
Urging people to donate what they can and share their fundraiser where possible, as well as welcoming corporate sponsorships should other local businesses wish to back them or get stuck through volunteering days, time is of the essence.
The Little Green Sock Project was only started back in 2022 and has already supported over 1,300 children, redistributing more than £240,000 worth of essential items like clothing, cots, prams, and stair gates to local families, as well as saving 20 tonnes of items from landfill.
It’s no exaggeration to say that they’ve changed and saved lives, both parents and children, and with the often difficult festive period approaching their work is needed now more than ever.
There are just under a dozen baby banks in all of Greater Manchester, many of which are facing similar pressures. (Credit: Supplied)
Speaking on their efforts and the fundraiser, founder Catherine D’Albertanson said: “We believe that essentials needed for the health and wellbeing of children should not only be for those that can afford them. Our work ensures that no child in our community goes without essentials, but without new premises, we will have no choice but to close.”
Moreover, Little Green Sock Project is the only baby bank in the Trafford area and of the families it serves, 58% are single-parent households already struggling with the cost of raising children, while 29% are fleeing domestic abuse, often leaving their belongings behind to protect their family.
With their circular economy model, they also help reduce waste whilst providing “a trusted link between the families that have items to give, to those that need them the most”, with D’Albertanson adding, “If we lose this charity, we lose a vital safety net for many in our community.”
A service user commented: “It was a truly terrifying time when I was pregnant with my first child, I found myself completely alone, with a baby on the way, wondering how I could possibly provide for my son. Then I found Little Green Sock Project, and everything changed. Everything was carefully chosen, colour-coordinated, and presented in such a thoughtful way. It felt so special—like someone truly cared about me and my baby. That feeling is indescribable, especially for someone in my position.
“There are so many people like me with stories like this. It breaks my heart to think that Little Green Sock Project might have to close its doors. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without your help, and I hope with all my heart that the community comes together to keep this lifeline alive.”
Manchester parents need this much-loved baby bank – let’s not it fall away on our watch. (Credit: Andy Bate at Royal Foundation)
Every pound donated goes towards helping find the Little Green Sock Project a new home but people can help contribute in other ways, once again, by spreading the word or getting their hands dirty in person.
Greater Manchester never fails to amaze when it rallies behind causes like this and we’re sure you won’t let us down this time either. Let’s keep the lights on the lifelines for local families intact.
You can donate now or to find out other ways to do your bit, click HERE.
Featured Images — Little Green Sock Project/Andy Bate – Royal Foundation (supplied)
News
Factory Sounds funding programme returns to help Greater Manchester’s music scene
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester’s vital Factory Sounds programme is back for 2025 and is once again hoping to help platform up-and-coming musicians and more around across the region.
The development scheme created by world-leading arts organisation Factory International, now housed permanently at Aviva Studios, has returned for another year and looks to invest in the Manchester music scene from the ground up.
An annual initiative, Factory Sounds aims to support and raise the profile of musicians and the music industry across the 10 boroughs, with a total of 15 applicants picked to take part and make the next step up in their careers.
With applications now open for the 2025 programme, those who prove successful in the process applicants will be granted a potentially life-changing £1,000 towards their work.
Applications for the next Factory Sounds cohort are now open 🎵
We’re offering financial support of up to £1,000 for anyone based in Greater Manchester involved in music – professional or amateur (including musicians, DJs, producers, promoters, label owners and managers). pic.twitter.com/a0CBWztyPm
Starting back in the pandemic when arts funding was under even more threat than it is today, Factory Sounds has been a crucial lifeline for many artists and creatives looking to get their start in the local industry, as well as providing a key learning outlet.
The money given to each chosen individual goes towards things like the creation of a new project, recording studio access; peer-to-peer support, networking opportunities and a series of regular masterclasses in artist management, promotion, fundraising and more.
Better yet, 2025 promises to be their biggest to date not only in terms of scope but also the size of the cohort itself, with the number of places more than doubling from this past year, when there were just six grants up for grabs.
2024’s intake included the artist and producer RenzNiro, community station STEAM Radio MCR; the soulful R&B performer, Rumbi Tauro, Reggae rap artist and spoken word poet, J.Chambers, electronic producer and vocalist Caitlin LM and many more, with one of our favourite up-and-coming bands, Loose Articles, having also benefited from the scheme in the past.
Applications for the next are now open, as is the Factory International Fellowship, which offers six artists from the North the opportunity to shadow the creation of major new work at Aviva Studios, receiving a financial bursary as well as mentoring tailored to their specialism, needs and goals.
The programme is one of our many artist development programmes, which also include:
👉 Factory International Fellowship 📆 Deadline to apply: Monday 9 December
👉 Artist Takeover 📆 Deadline to apply: Monday 16 December
But it doesn’t stop there either, as Factory International‘s Spring 2025 Artist Takeover is also open, welcoming groups and collectives of South Asian descent from any discipline who are based in the North of England – not just Greater Manchester – to join the programme.
Applicants in this case must have a minimum of five years professional practice but, come May 2025, they will hand over the keys to the vast Warehouse space at Aviva Studios for use by a South Asian artist or group looking to experiment, play and create work on an epic scale that is not possible elsewhere.
Promising even more financial aid through this limited scheme, selected artists will be offered financial support of up to £10k to explore and realise their ideas, as well as receive dedicated guidance from industry experts within the Factory International team.
Again, the prospects that these various schemes are bringing to real people looking to bring their art to life cannot be overstated.
Speaking on the announcement, Factory Sounds 2024 artist and co-creator of queer electronic music night FLUFF, Markus Hetheier,said: “It felt amazing to have the chance to take a risk using the Factory Sounds funding.
“We also had mentorship and advice which helped us grow FLUFF from a small to a bigger, more professional project. It was useful receiving training on different aspects of being an artist and it felt nice to connect with like-minded people.”
Factory International’s Head of Music, Rivca Burns, added: “Supporting the development of musicians based locally – as well as those from across the globe – to grow within our spaces is at the heart of what we do at Factory International…
“We recognise there’s a huge demand for schemes like this to exist and we are really excited to say that this year we have both increased the number of places as well as added industry mentors to give expert guidance and the opportunity for creatives to thrive.”
Applications close at 12 noon on 20 January, so if you or someone you know is looking to break into the Manchester music scene and could benefit from the extraordinary opportunity, send them HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
7th July 2023 
